Jeremiah 38:19

And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.

And Zedekiah {H6667} the king {H4428} said {H559} unto Jeremiah {H3414}, I am afraid {H1672} of the Jews {H3064} that are fallen {H5307} to the Chaldeans {H3778}, lest they deliver {H5414} me into their hand {H3027}, and they mock {H5953} me.

Tzidkiyahu the king said to Yirmeyahu, "I am afraid of the Judeans who deserted to the Kasdim. The Kasdim might hand me over to them, and they would mistreat me."

But King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, โ€œI am afraid of the Jews who have deserted to the Chaldeans, for the Chaldeans may deliver me into their hands to abuse me.โ€

And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen away to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.

Commentary

Context

Jeremiah 38:19 occurs during the final, desperate days of Jerusalem's siege by the Babylonian (Chaldean) army. King Zedekiah, a weak and indecisive ruler, is caught between the demands of his fearful princes and the unwavering prophetic counsel of Jeremiah. The prophet has consistently urged surrender to the Babylonians as God's will, promising that doing so would save the city and the king's life. In this verse, Zedekiah expresses his profound fear to Jeremiahโ€”not primarily of the Babylonians themselves, but of the Jewish defectors who had already surrendered to the Chaldeans. He fears they will turn him over to the enemy and publicly humiliate him, a deep concern for ancient kings who valued honor above all else.

Key Themes

  • Fear of Man vs. Trust in God: Zedekiah's primary motivation throughout this period is his overwhelming fear of what people might do or say, particularly the ridicule of his own countrymen who had already submitted. This fear paralyzes him and prevents him from obeying God's clear command delivered through Jeremiah.
  • Consequences of Indecision: The verse highlights the tragic outcome of Zedekiah's inability to commit to God's will. His repeated vacillation between seeking Jeremiah's advice and succumbing to the pressure of his officials ultimately leads to a worse fate for himself and Jerusalem than if he had simply obeyed.
  • Humiliation and Shame: Zedekiah's dread of being "mocked" speaks to the cultural importance of honor and the profound disgrace associated with public ridicule, especially for a king. This concern for his reputation outweighs his concern for God's favor or the well-being of his people.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "mock" here is la'ag (ืœึทืขึทื’), which conveys a strong sense of derision, scorn, and ridicule. It's not just about being handed over, but about the profound psychological and emotional pain of being publicly shamed and made an object of contempt. Zedekiah's fear of this specific form of humiliation reveals a deep concern for his personal dignity and status, which tragically overshadows the divine instruction for his kingdom's survival.

Practical Application

Zedekiah's plight serves as a powerful biblical lesson for believers today:

  • Overcoming Fear of Man: We are often tempted to compromise our convictions or delay obedience to God out of fear of what others might think, say, or do. This verse reminds us that fearing God should always supersede the fear of man.
  • Trusting God's Difficult Commands: God's ways are not always easy or comfortable, and sometimes His commands lead us through situations that may feel humiliating or counter-intuitive in the short term. Zedekiah's failure to trust God's plan, even when it seemed to involve personal disgrace (surrender), led to greater suffering.
  • The Danger of Indecision: Procrastination and indecision, especially when it comes to obeying God's revealed will, can have severe consequences. It is better to move forward in faith, even when the path is uncertain, than to remain paralyzed by fear.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • John 12:42

    ยถ Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess [him], lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

  • Isaiah 57:11

    And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid [it] to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?

  • John 19:12

    And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.

  • John 19:13

    When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

  • Isaiah 51:12

    I, [even] I, [am] he that comforteth you: who [art] thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man [that] shall die, and of the son of man [which] shall be made [as] grass;

  • Isaiah 51:13

    And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where [is] the fury of the oppressor?

  • Jeremiah 38:22

    And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house [shall be] brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and those [women] shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, [and] they are turned away back.
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